Magilton and Sonner were ignored by former Irish boss Lawrie McMenemy.

McMenemy axed Magilton for disciplinary reasons and because he was "too slow",
while he ignored Sonner because he claimed he was a "Walter Mitty" figure who
lived in his own world.

Sonner has not played international football for 11 months, while Magilton's last cap came
in a friendly against Spain in June 1998.

McIlroy has also opted to give Manchester United reserve hitman David Healy, who has scored four goals in eight Under-21 appearances, his first senior cap, in place of Dowie.

Dowie, nearly 35, has scored only one international goal in two and a half years of trying.

Sonner: Accused of being on another planet

Keith Gillespie is also back after recovering from injury and stands a good
chance of starting because Jon McCarthy is out with a broken leg.

Wigan's highly-rated goalkeeper Roy Carroll has also graduated to the full
squad from the Under-21s, while McIlroy has also selected Carroll's clubmate Pat
McGibbon and the uncapped Colin Murdock of Preston.

Skipper Steve Lomas and Manchester City's Kevin Horlock return after missing
Northern Ireland's final Euro 2000 qualifier in October because of suspension.

Leicester's Gerry Taggart is also back from the wilderness following his exclusion under
McMenemy for disciplinary reasons, but is excused along with his Leicester
team-mate Neil Lennon because of the Worthington Cup Final, which is just four
days after the friendly.